Lack of masks, handwashing factors in Oregon COVID-19 spike

Oregonians returning to their public routines without following public health guidelines are partially to blame for an uptick in coronavirus cases statewide, according to experts.

It was another triple digit day of new coronavirus cases in oregon... kezi 9 news reporter chris lueneburg spoke to experts about what is behind this latest spike.

Downtown eugene is coming back to life-- people in the crowds say they are happy about reopening-- but concerned... "unfortunately i've noticed that a lot of people seem not to even pay attention.

About half the people we saw on kesey square around lunch had masks on their person... "i think people did get a little more irresponsable when they noticed the cases start to drop, like 'it's safe to go outside.'

In reality, they still have to be safe.

Ohsu's melissa haendel says data models demonstrate that oregonians returning to public life are responsible for the statewide spike.

"i think maybe we reopened at the right time, but maybe not cautiously enough.

She says lackluster mask use and poor hand hygeniene combined with several large, single location outbreaks are behind the rise.

"i think it's a wake up call.

It's not too late to do that regression and get oregon into that low incidence rate."

That said, experts say western oregon seems to be doing well.

"staff at riverbend hospital say case numbers in our area could indicate that the community is doing a good job at following guidelines-- now it's all about keeping up the good work."

Chief nursing officer heather wall says 3 people have been admitted to riverbend for coronavirus in the last 6 weeks during reopening.

"when you are looking for cause and effect and you are seeing our prevelance rate so low in lane county, one has to assume its because we are taking it seriously as citizens and being respectful of each other's space."

She says riverbend has hospital beds and p-p-e on hand for a possible surge-- which most hope will never arrive.

"keep social distancing.

It's the only thing we can do."

Reporting in springfield chris lueneburg kezi 9 news.

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